Cost of living support: All you need to know about the third and final payment

If you receive benefits such as Universal Credit or tax credits, you might have recently received a cost-of-living payment of £299 - the third and final instalment of payments that were announced for 2023/24.

Currently, no further support payments have been announced but as mentioned in the Government's autumn statement, some benefits are set to rise by 6.7% from April 2024, which you can find out more about here.

Here's a quick breakdown of all you need to know about the Government's latest cost-of-living payment:

Payment Schedule

The £299 payment was part of a £900 cost-of-living grant for 2023/24. It was split into three payments, with the third one being issued between 6 February and 22 February 2024.

Who qualifies?

If you receive benefits such as child tax credits, income support or Universal Credit, you're likely to be eligible for this payment. You may also be eligible if you didn't receive previous payments in 2022 or 2023.

Pension Credit

If you're of state pension age and eligible for pension credit, you can still claim the £299 payment if you apply for pension credit by March 5th, 2024.

Automatic Payments - beware of scams

You should receive the payment automatically if you qualify. Beware of scams asking for personal or banking information, as legitimate payments won't require this.

I think I am eligible but haven't received this payment

If you believe you should have received the £299 and haven't received it, you can use this online form on the Government's website to report it. You'll need to provide some personal details and you should hear back within two weeks.

If you have any questions or concerns about your eligibility or payment, you can find more information on Gov.uk or by contacting the relevant helpline for your benefits.